Habs' blend of veterans, youth confounds NHL pundits

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For the better part of eight seasons, Francis Bouillon has played for the Canadiens. And the scenario has followed a familiar path during that time - battle for a National Hockey League playoff berth, usually until the last week, and sometimes the last game of the season.
Sometimes it has worked out. The sheer fact Bouillon's playoff résumé consists of only 17 games, means it usually has not.
"Eight years, and I've never seen that before," the Montreal defenceman said yesterday morning, after an off-ice workout he, and most of his teammates, participated in at the Bell Centre. "It always seems it depends on the last game, whether we make the playoffs or not."

Not this season, however.
With Monday's electrifying 7-5 victory against Ottawa, the Canadiens became the first team in the Eastern Conference to qualify for the playoffs - with almost two weeks remaining in the regular-season. It marks a record 76th time this 99-year-old franchise has attained a playoff berth. It has been an incredible journey, coming after Montreal finished 10th overall in the conference last season and was eliminated by Toronto in the final game.
"I prefer things happening this way," head coach Guy Carbonneau said. "It was exciting last year and we were all on our toes, but I like this situation better."
While the Canadiens are the NHL's sixth-youngest team - a statistic that might come back to haunt them, given their lack of playoff experience - Carbonneau figured the club was stronger when it assembled for training camp last September.
"I understand the media and fans when they said we weren't going to be a playoff contender because of what happened last season ... the injuries and sickness," Carbonneau said later in the day, during an NHL-imposed conference call. "But I knew at training camp, with our additions, we were going to be a better team.
"I take pride in proving people wrong. Plus, we've been lucky and haven't had many injuries. Our goalies have been solid and we haven't had a slump. I knew we had a better team than people thought. If not for that month, month-and-a-half when we were all sick, we would have made the playoffs."
But the playoffs, it shouldn't be forgotten, are two weeks away. And Montreal still has five games remaining, starting tomorrow night, at Buffalo. Win three of those five, and the Canadiens can finish no lower than second in the conference. Keep winning, and they'll remain first, guaranteeing home-ice advantage for at least three series, should they advance that far.
"We want to win them all, so everything's arranged," veteran winger Steve Bégin said. "It
hasn't been like this for a while. If some guys are tired, the coach can rest them. But we've also got to concentrate and play like we're in playoff mode. This is the adversity we'll face in the playoffs."
Carbonneau said it's unlikely he'll rest players, choosing instead to give them a respite between games. But someone like Mathieu Dandenault, a healthy scratch 14 of the last 15 games, can expect to finally suit up, the coach added.
"After 76 games, there's not a lot of rookies left," Carbonneau said. "Obviously, experience is a factor in the playoffs. But it's about winning. The ones who have helped you win games will be in the lineup."
Notes - Carey Price is expected to start in net against the Sabres. ... Winger Guillaume Latendresse, out two games with a back injury, is expected to practise today.